Dvorak – The Masterworks (40 CD box set, FLAC)

Performer: Zeljco Grofelnik, Marcello Rosca, Peter Mikulas, Richard Novak, Robert Cohen, et al.
Conductor: Alexander Rahbari, John Farrer
Composer: Antonin Dvorak
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 40 CD box set
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Brilliant Classics
Size: 10.5 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

# Symphony No. 1 in C minor (“The Bells of Zlonice”), B9
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Zdenek Kosler

# Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, B. 12 (Op. 4)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Zdenek Kosler

# Symphony No. 3 in E flat, B. 34 (Op. 10)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Zdenek Kosler

# Symphony No. 4 in D minor, B. 41 (Op. 13)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Zdenek Kosler

# Symphony No. 5 in F major, B. 54 (Op. 76) (first published as No. 3)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Zdenek Kosler

# Symphony No. 7 in D minor, B. 141 (Op. 70) (first published as No. 2)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Zdenek Kosler

# Symphony No. 6 in D major, B. 112 (Op. 60) (first published as No. 1, Op. 58)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Zdenek Kosler

# Symphony No. 8 in G major, B. 163 (Op.88) (first published as No. 4)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Paavo Jarvi

# Serenade for string orchestra in E major, B. 52 (Op. 22)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Paavo Jarvi

# Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”), B. 178 (Op. 95) (first published as No. 5)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Paavo Jarvi

# Scherzo capriccioso for piano, 4 hands in D flat major (arr. from Scherzo capriccioso, B. 131 [Op. 66]), B. 510
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Paavo Jarvi

# Piano Concerto in G minor, B. 63 (Op. 33)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
with Rudolf Firkusny
Conducted by Walter Susskind

# Romance for violin & orchestra in F minor (arr. from Andante of Str Qrt No. 5), B. 39 (Op. 11)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
with Ruggiero Ricci
Conducted by Walter Susskind

# Mazurek for violin & orchestra in E minor, B. 90 (Op.49)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
with Ruggiero Ricci
Conducted by Walter Susskind

# Silent Woods (Klid), for cello & orchestra (arr. from From the Bohemian Forest, B. 133), B. 182 (Op. 68/5)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
with Zara Nelsova
Conducted by Walter Susskind

# Rondo for cello & orchestra in G minor, B. 181 (Op. 94)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
with Zara Nelsova
Conducted by Walter Susskind

# Violin Concerto in A minor (2 versions), B. 96/B. 108 (Op. 53)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
with Ruggiero Ricci
Conducted by Walter Susskind

# Cello Concerto in B minor, B. 191 (Op. 104)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
with Zara Nelsova
Conducted by Walter Susskind

# Requiem for vocal soloists, chorus & orchestra, B. 165 (Op. 89)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
with Peter Mikulas, Jozef Kundlak, Magdalena Hajossyova, Vera Soukupova
Conducted by Zdenek Kosler

# Stabat Mater for vocal soloists, chorus & orchestra, B. 71 (Op. 58)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
with Magdalena Hajossyova, Vera Soukupova, Richard Novak, Peter Dvorsky
Conducted by Zdenek Kosler

# String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, B. 19 (once listed as Op. 9)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Solomon Trio

# Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major, B. 51 (Op. 21)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Solomon Trio

# Piano Trio No. 3 in F minor, B. 130 (Op. 65) (once listed as Op. 64)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Solomon Trio

# Piano Trio No. 2 in G minor, B. 56 (Op. 26)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Solomon Trio

# Piano Quartet No. 1 in D major, B. 53 (Op. 23)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Ames Piano Quartet

# Piano Quartet No. 2 in E flat major, B. 162 (Op. 87)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Ames Piano Quartet

# Piano Quintet in A major, B. 28 (Op. 5)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter

# Piano Quintet in A major, B. 155 (Op. 81) (once listed as Op. 77)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter

# String Quintet for 2 violins, viola, cello & double bass in G major (once listed as Op. 18), B. 49 (Op. 77)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Jiri Hudec

# String Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas & cello in E flat major (“American”), B. 180 (Op. 97)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Jan Jr. Talich

# Capriccio for piano in G minor, B. 188/2
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Petr Adamec, Bohuslav Matousek

# Romance for violin & orchestra in F minor (arr. from Andante of Str Qrt No. 5), B. 39 (Op. 11)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Petr Adamec, Bohuslav Matousek

# Nocturne for violin & piano in B major (arr. from Andante religioso, Str. Qrt. No. 4), B. 48a (Op. 40)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Petr Adamec, Bohuslav Matousek

# Sonata for violin & piano in F major, B. 106 (Op. 57)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Petr Adamec, Bohuslav Matousek

# Sonatina for violin & piano in G major (“Indian Lament”), B. 183 (Op. 100)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Petr Adamec, Bohuslav Matousek

# Ballad for violin & piano in D minor, B. 139 (Op. 15/1)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Petr Adamec, Bohuslav Matousek

# Romantic Pieces (4) for violin & piano, B. 150 (Op. 75) (rev. of Miniatures, B. 149)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Petr Adamec, Bohuslav Matousek

# Mazurek for violin & orchestra in E minor, B. 90 (Op.49)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Petr Adamec, Bohuslav Matousek

# Rondo for cello & piano in G minor, B. 171 (Op. 94)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Roger Vignoles, Robert Cohen

# Miniatures (Drobnosti) (4) for 2 violins & viola, B. 149 (Op. 75a)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# Gavotte for 3 violins in G major, B. 164
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# Bagatelles (5) for 2 violins, cello & harmonium, B. 79 (Op. 47)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Virginia Black

# Serenade for winds and strings in D minor, B. 77 (Op. 44)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Nash Ensemble

# String Quartet No. 3 in D major, B. 18
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 2 in B flat major, B. 17
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# Andante Appasionato for string quartet in F major, B. 40a
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 8 in E major, B. 57 (Op.80)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# Cypresses (Ohlas písní [Echoes of Songs]), for string quartet (arr. from Cypresses, B. 11), B. 152
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, B. 19 (once listed as Op. 9) Assai con moto ed energico
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, B. 19 (once listed as Op. 9) Andante religioso
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, B. 19 (once listed as Op. 9) Allegro con brio
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet Movement in F minor, B. 120
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 5 in F minor, B. 37 (Op.9)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 6 in A minor, B. 40 (Op.12)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 1 in A major, B. 8 (Op. 2)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# Terzetto for 2 violins & viola in C major, B. 148 (Op. 74)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 11 in C major, B. 121 (Op.61)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# Waltzes (2) for strings (arr. from Waltzes for piano, B. 101), B. 105
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 9 in D minor, B. 75 (Op.34) (once listed as Op. 43)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 7 in A minor, B. 45 (Op.16)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 10 in E flat major, B. 92 (Op. 51)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 14 in A flat major, B. 193 (Op. 105)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 12 in F major (“American”), B. 179 (Op. 96)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# String Quartet No. 13 in G major, B. 192 (Op. 106)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak

# Slavonic Dances (8) for orchestra, B. 83 (Op. 46)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by John Farrer

# Slavonic Dances (8) for orchestra, B. 147 (Op. 72)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by John Farrer

# Slavonic Dances (8) for piano, 4 hands, B. 78 (Op. 46)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Julian Thurber, Ingryd Thorson

# Slavonic Dances (8) for piano, 4 hands, B. 145 (Op. 72)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Julian Thurber, Ingryd Thorson

# Legends (10), for piano, 4 hands, B. 117 (Op. 59)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Julian Thurber, Ingryd Thorson

# From the Bohemian Forest (Ze Sumavy) for piano, 4 hands, B. 133 (Op. 68)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Julian Thurber, Ingryd Thorson

# Theme & Variations for piano in A flat major, B. 65 (Op.36)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Kai Adomeit

# Silhouettes (12) for piano, B. 98 (Op. 8)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Kai Adomeit

# Furiants (2) for piano, B. 85 (Op.42)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Kai Adomeit

# Waltzes (8) for piano, B. 101 (Op. 54)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Kai Adomeit

# Rusalka, opera, B. 203 (Op. 114)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra
with Ursula Furi-Bernhard, Marcello Rosca, Martina Gojceta, Tiziana K. Sojat, Vesna Odoran, Tamara Felbinger-Franetovic, Walter Coppola, Nelly Boschkowa, Martina Zadro, Vitomir Marof, Zeljco Grofelnik
Conducted by Alexander Rahbari

# Czech Suite, for orchestra in D major, B. 93 (Op. 39)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# My Home (Domov muj), concert overture (arr. from Josef Kajetán Tyl, B. 125), B. 125a (Op. 62)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# Hussite Overture (Husitska dramaticka ouvertura) for orchestra, B. 132 (Op. 67)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# In Nature’s Realm (V prírode), concert overture, B. 168 (Op. 91)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# Othello, concert overture, B. 174 (Op. 93)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# Symphonic Variations for orchestra (on “I am a Fiddler” B. 66/3), B. 70 (Op. 78)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# Carnival (Karneval), concert overture, B. 169 (Op. 92)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# The Water Goblin (Vodník), symphonic poem, B. 195 (Op. 107)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# The Noon Witch (Polednice), symphonic poem, B. 196 (Op. 108)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# The Golden Spinning Wheel (Zlatý kolovrat), symphonic poem, B. 197 (Op. 109)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# The Wild Dove (Holoubek), symphonic poem for orchestra, B. 198 (Op. 110)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

# A Hero’s Song (Písen bohatyrská), symphonic poem for orchestra, B. 199 (Op.111)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
Performed by Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Theodore Kuchar

Musical jewels at a bargain-basement price

First, the good news: This isn’t quite the complete works of Dvorak, but it’s close enough to give you an in-depth look at one of the greatest of all composers. If you know no Dvorak, or only a little, be advised that he ranks just short of the likes of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. His music rarely plumbs emotional depths, but it’s melodic, technically sound, beautifully orchestrated (in the pieces for orchestra, obviously), and in general a joy to listen to. If I were to start listing favorites, I’d probably wind up simply reproducing the table of contents. His earliest works, like the first four symphonies, lack the dramatic profile of the later ones, but they’re enjoyable in their own right. His later ones can make you smile (like the Eighth Symphony) or scare you half to death (like the four late symphonic poems). You can play this set from one end to the other and not regret a single minute of it.

The bad news? Well, it really isn’t that bad. But you can’t expect to get this quantity of great music at such a low price and find yourself listening to the finest performances as well. Also, some of these recordings date back to the Fifties and Sixties. There’s nothing wrong with the performers, and occasionally you do get close to the best of the bunch (no one ever surpassed Firkusny in the Piano Concerto, although he himself made a later recording than the one offered here, and it’s better). These aren’t bad performances, just less than ideal. And the sound on some of them is also less than ideal. Hey, what do you want for four dollars a CD?

If you’re relatively new to classical music or to Dvorak, and if you’re looking to CDs as a medium for listening, and if you can afford this set (40 CDs for the price of about a dozen), you owe it to yourself to get this. If I hadn’t been collecting Dvorak since my first purchase of the New World Symphony on mono LP in 1953, I’d buy it myself.